Ask for manpower, not overtime policy

Published: Thursday, March 25, 2004 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 at 11:00 p.m.

It's a little misleading for state troopers to insist that they're entitled to overtime pay for working special assignments. In many instances, the troopers drawing time-and-a-half pay for these duties haven't already worked a regular 40-hour week.

Overtime pay, instead, has been automatic for troopers assigned to duties like patrolling highway construction zones.

State Personnel Director Tommy Flowers is ending that wasteful practice. He has written guidelines saying -- sensibly -- that troopers have to work 40 hours before they draw overtime, regardless of their assignment.

The guidelines also forbid the troopers from counting holidays or leave days in time worked before collecting overtime the same week.

The automatic overtime is costly. The cumulative/seffect has been such that Public Safety got $4 million from the Legislature for overtime in fiscal 2003.

Department of Public Safety Director Mike Coppage says he that he will comply with the new directive, but that he will fight it at the same time. A bill has been prepared for the current session that would allow the troopers to draw the disputed overtime.

Coppage argues that the state Department of Transportation contracts with Public Safety for the overtime compensation.

He says it's fair because some troopers have to work special details from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. before reporting to work for their regular shifts, for example.

The unusual hours, however, come with the territory. Rather than fighting the overtime rule, Coppage would do better do fight for more manpower and better pay. The public will support neither if he is successful in getting the former wasteful overtime policy reinstated.

<p>It's a little misleading for state troopers to insist that they're entitled to overtime pay for working special assignments. In many instances, the troopers drawing time-and-a-half pay for these duties haven't already worked a regular 40-hour week.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>Overtime pay, instead, has been automatic for troopers assigned to duties like patrolling highway construction zones.</p><p>State Personnel Director Tommy Flowers is ending that wasteful practice. He has written guidelines saying -- sensibly -- that troopers have to work 40 hours before they draw overtime, regardless of their assignment.</p><p>The guidelines also forbid the troopers from counting holidays or leave days in time worked before collecting overtime the same week.</p><p>The automatic overtime is costly. The cumulative/seffect has been such that Public Safety got $4 million from the Legislature for overtime in fiscal 2003.</p><p>Department of Public Safety Director Mike Coppage says he that he will comply with the new directive, but that he will fight it at the same time. A bill has been prepared for the current session that would allow the troopers to draw the disputed overtime.</p><p>Coppage argues that the state Department of Transportation contracts with Public Safety for the overtime compensation.</p><p>He says it's fair because some troopers have to work special details from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. before reporting to work for their regular shifts, for example.</p><p>The unusual hours, however, come with the territory. Rather than fighting the overtime rule, Coppage would do better do fight for more manpower and better pay. The public will support neither if he is successful in getting the former wasteful overtime policy reinstated.</p>